Working With Disabilities

Posted on: Mon, Jul 14 2008 7:45 AM

Posted by: rainey826 Posts: 3,961

 HI CHRIS , HOW I LOVED MY DOCTOR ! HE WOULD AWAYS CALL ME BACK AND DURING ANY VISIT HE WOULD ALWAYS TAKE TIME TO EXPLAIN THINGS TO ME AND LET ME ASK ANY QUESTIONS , I WILL NEVER FORGET THE DAY HE TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A WHEELCHAIR FULL TIME , I CRYED ...... HE PUT HIM ARM AROUND ME AND PRAISED ME FOR ALL THAT DID AND EXPALINED TO ME THAT IT WAS TIME FOR MY BODY TO JUST , THE MOST IMPORTANT THING HE TOLD THAT DAY WAS " LORRAINE BE PROUD OF YOURSELF " ! WELL I HEARD A RUMOR THAT HE WAS LEAVING TOWN FOR A NEW POSTION WITH THE VETERNS , I CALLED HIM AND YES HE WAS LEAVING TOWN, I WAS HEARTBROKEN ! A NEW WOMAN DOCTOR TOLD OVER THE PRACTICE I HAVE YET TO MEET HER ! I WANT MY DOCTOR BACK ........   BE SAFE CHRIS   RAINEY

Posted on: Mon, Jul 14 2008 10:51 AM

Posted by: Christopher Hill Posts: 257

Hi and thank you so much for your comments so far, this is obviously a subject people can relate to and feel is important.  I have been thinking about your comments in relation to my own GP.

After a fall on Friday i had to book an appointment today with my GP so he could refer me on to specialists and to get a MRI.  To my surprise, the computers were down today and so i actually got eye contact and a one on one assessment.  Altho i didn't like the news he had to give me (MRI on my right knee and a neurolgist referral), at least i feel i was being treated as a human and not a number.

Someone mentioned that they only see there GP or Key Doctor once or twice a year.  Im on about 3 or 4 times a month at the mo, although might reduce a bit once things settle.

Its quite complicated to get a doctor in the UK, especially if you move home and to another area.  If you approach a practice yourself then you will probably be told that they are not taking any new patients.  However, if you phone a national number they will allocate you a GP and the practice or surgery will not have an option but to take you on.  The NHS is government funded and therefore you do not have to pay to see your GP or for treatment under the NHS.  You can pay privately and have Private Health cover.  The advantage of this is that you queue jump.  As i have been on benefits due to mental health since 2002 i have no choice but to sit and wait on waiting lists unless a am admitted to hospital in an emergency.

Chris x